ExxonMobil has announced Jagir Baxi as its new Chairman & Managing Director and Lead Country Manager for its Nigerian affiliates, including Esso Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited and Esso Exploration & Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited.
Baxi succeeds Shane Harris, who has moved to ExxonMobil’s global headquarters in Houston, Texas.
“I am honoured to lead our exceptional Nigeria team and build on the work that Shane Harris has done over the past two years.”
“My personal commitment is to sustain and grow the strong collaborative relationships we have built with the Nigerian Government, NNPCL, venture partners, various contractors, and the communities in which we operate,” Shane said.
An Australian national, Shane holds dual graduate degrees in engineering and science from Monash University, and an MBA from Melbourne Business School.
He joined ExxonMobil in 1999 and has since developed extensive expertise across deepwater oil and LNG, holding senior roles with operational, commercial and project responsibilities in:
- Australia
- Angola
- Iraq
- Qatar
- Papua New Guinea
- United States.
Before his appointment, Shane served as executive director for production in Nigeria, where he worked closely with regulators and joint-venture partners on the company’s offshore portfolio.
Upon assuming his new role, he described his appointment as “an honour” and pledged to strengthen collaboration with the Nigerian government, NNPCL, contractors and host communities.
“I feel very privileged to be part of the ExxonMobil team that is working hard to deploy our global deepwater capabilities … to support Nigeria in achieving its oil and gas industry aspirations.”
Shane has identified Nigeria’s huge offshore growth potential,” citing assets his company already operates.
“Nigeria has significant offshore deepwater growth potential in oil and gas. When combined with the improving investment climate, inherent advantages of already existing deepwater assets at Erha and Usan, and the remarkable talent of this country,” he added.
He noted that the combination of improving investment conditions and a strong domestic talent base positions ExxonMobil to help advance Nigeria’s energy ambitions.
Overall, Shane’s appointment is viewed as a signal of ExxonMobil’s commitment to long-term investment in Nigeria’s upstream sector, with a focus on innovation, local content and regulatory alignment.
Meanwhile, the Exxon executive has already visited the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), where he stressed the company’s readiness to work with regulators under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) framework.
His leadership is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping ExxonMobil’s deepwater strategy and support the company’s partnership with Nigeria.